Weber’s Test

Results & Discussion

Weber’s Test
 A tuning fork was
gently struck on the
heel of the hand
 The vibrating tuning
fork was placed at any
midline structure such
as the vertex, nasal
bone, or incisors.
 The subjects were
asked to localize on
which side the sound
is heard.
Weber’s Test
 Correct Response: sound is heard
equally on both ears.
 Sensorineural loss = loudest sound in
unaffected ear
 Conduction loss = loudest sound in
affected ear (hears vibrations only)
Weber’s Test
WEBER’S TEST Sound heard
loudest in…
Normal Hearing Both ears

Left conductive deafness Left ear

Left complete sensorineural deafness Right ear

Right conductive deafness Right ear

Right complete sensorineural deafness Left ear

 Results
Subjects Localization of Sound
Salvador Heard in both ears equally
Sanchez Heard in both ears equally
San Juan Heard in both ears equally
Santos Heard in both ears equally
Seneris Heard in both ears equally
Siapno Heard in both ears equally
Soliman Heard in both ears but louder in left ear
Soliza Heard in both ears equally
Sombilla Heard in both ears but louder in left ear
Sosa Heard in both ears but louder in left ear
Sumayao Heard in both ears equally
Tabora Heard in both ears but louder in right ear
Talabong Heard in both ears equally
Discussion
 The Ernst Weber’s test (1934) is used to identify the
better hearing cochlear. It is used in conjunction
with Rinne’s test and is of most use in patients with
unilateral hearing loss.
 The correct response is equal loudness of sound on
both ears.
 The results in the experiment showed “lateralization
on the Weber” by four of the thirteen subjects and
indicated some form of hearing loss.
 Three subjects heard the sound louder on left ear.
Discussion
 This lateralization of sound perception can
be explained in two ways:
1. Sensorineural loss on the Right
 Acoustic nerve unable to carry the sound  sound is
heard only from the left side
2. Conduction loss on the Left
 Air conduction is lost  sound waves are blocked
from entering the inner ear  subject is hearing
exclusively by bone conduction  the other ear has
both the influence of air conduction and bone
conduction 
 Air conduction is better than bone conduction.
Therefore, right ear will be less aware of the bone
conduction than the left ear  subject hears the
sound on the left.
Discussion
 The results need to be interpreted with
care and only in conjunction with
further hearing tests.
Types of Hearing Loss
 Conductive Hearing Loss
 External ear obstructions (earwax, foreign
bodies)
 Middle ear obstructions (otitis)
 Otosclerosis
 Sensorineural Hearing Loss
 Hair cell degeneration
 Presbycusis
 Lesion of cochlear nerve